Arts Envoys Promote Unity through Jazz in Tanzania

April 30, 2012

Bobby Ricketts performs at Ambassador's residence.

Ambassador Lenhardt presents coin to Bobby Ricketts on April 19.

The American people through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Arts Envoys Program, sponsored the visit of American jazz musicians Bobby Ricketts, Delmar Brown, and Tony Bunn to Tanzania for the Annual Dar Jazz Event from April 18 - 21. Bobby Ricketts also offered workshops and performances at Triniti, the Alliance Francaise, the Goethe-Institut, and an invitation only concert at Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt's residence for over 300 guests from Tanzania's government, private, security, arts and cultural sectors, and members of the diplomatic corps. In all venues, Bobby Ricketts was joined by aspiring and top Tanzanian musicians, including Tanzanian hip hop (Bongo Flava) artist Fareed Kubanda (Fid Q), a 2010 IVLP alumnus. His performances at Triniti and the Alliance Francaise were each attended by over 400 guests. The American jazz musicians traveled from Tanzania to Nigeria as part of ECA's Arts Envoys Program in East and West Africa.

Bobby Ricketts is an American saxophonist from Boston, Massachusetts based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Through numerous artistic collaborations, his reputation has spread throughout Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and the U.S., and Tanzania. Bobby has made multiple trips to Tanzania, holding workshops and performances to inspire and raise the level of local musicianship.

See press release: http://tanzania.usembassy.gov/pr_04192012.html.